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L B. OWENS.

METHOD AND MEANS F08 FIRlNG TUNNEL KILNS.

APPLICATION FILED #$6.24, ISH?.

Patented Ot. 19, 1920.

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UNITED STAT-E155 PAT-ENT UFFICE.

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W- lll'- mumemt af n. cnmknstmn ehwmbar and au 'whereby said mmthnd may im practised..

The inve-mm wmmtmnplnmz@ai rsl subsumt-uly completa oumbnatmn nf 'the full 4iirleui in the Hind-inn o! that is ing . il; will Ik 3' tinns a the :il tbs up `un wm tinnatumllysnsmnmimn thgoughwt the umY thm can, than i11- mx un fsmnring cui tlm mma 4miwmtulruuii in n uff the an rs m, whnbefm :antiinera may 'be me ,im @ma holding the, Win13.

Mg immuun is euri/ed aus* zst, h tha on uf n. rizn ur mmhnatmn El: ur furnace whiz exfmda mgadn tha tnnm, prmmmhly Imam-1 thmwtn, :md is lem thwim ufthamnnlsither v omar .bo ends, bult hum this mi nearest. tbn exit und of mami. This mntaml of rmg and mrmnigemmb of eumlmstinn chamber mrt only mmm substanti complete combustion of thu fm1 tHim' mt hunt umts pussngtnm gno n; wam im the -twgunl lm it nlm. mams blmkening, vsp-mx'lm: ,.mghvwisu vxmnvlmthe gamba wh' twva'iiwrg 0f haut. unitn to thm gno would bring My inventiva is out, in the B21:-

hn but that them-will undpllmbythn vsmnfmnnmhel mug ii; mrtg-mm rammhp to tlm humm` and hm omnbmtmn chmmhnr the cmbustian nhlmhar ur chamba-s and uf @in tunnel This umh il plhmblj nf sami c'mmmim-m m, in with the dumber at chmbm [firm b8- lng phmbly two nhnmhma, located on opposie shim oi the tammlf., it not only www in dem summation withi!! tlmdklmhw otr uhnmliimhlltfnbn mclinlaa ita Expat tamm thm mmmlamne vmhin tlm mmm]m lmnt from the Mou cnns'umd gums I: 'the wim: m' goods mm1 @Erecting n great :paving in the nmmmt uf' fuel mqmre fha m11 may ha insulated in my manner dmlmd tu prevent Ime ou! htm: @pum-d? :md quhm sans tn um the intmzml :11:10u mbtw refmlto.

It xzhithm im spirit E; my mfelxml as ruga a da arrf m emp u uw ty,m me, di :Euhm 1Mo! n single, :substantially mul-emular umh but the `mmgl ammgemmt is Such am st'- ngtmnli m' a mnimtly wide er In- `tup-ammi thnuaaodatm-truck wnthm hing a betwun ivm, pmlel., ms umida of tha zum: uf fha iullml.

My invention smTad-mgthifrhybdflmutha llne-lx1: and MI5 ol cUmbust-ml na t y puns vIraans mmbustiun chamber au that they will ha dmtd downwardly rw they zmv Enum tho oom y|:m huber :md 111m h lain. ggg mum heavily on the 1mmpm'tmymo stmk@ of wm un the n1-a, 31mm man upwm'lly amd rlisasmmaing througlnut. a wm due tu thi: luft 0i tha rng od the wm at all hglghm pf stank thmuf.

Tim mmm is mupthleof nwmtion Witlmut departing ttbm its emmbnl kalium of construction und made of 0pmt-ion in .lirrn `tlm: gunde mf 1mm. The mmabructinns and Mmmmfu w n@ mamma M m, im@ nimm.. nbn islam um und mman-u.

In the Mmmplmgring I Figure 1, in n hwiumm Vih unnlglil the twu cllllmbers nml :llzurtinn uf bul'mng zum olf n mumel n-embadymg my anvem'ion, the tunnel baing thans 26 bers .site sides of the irino' or burning zone l 'tunn broken away at both ends of the combustion chambers;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3 3, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section, showing an embodiment of the invention according to the disclosures of my Patent No. 1,288,975, dated December 24, 1918.

While my invention is particularly adapted for use with the Owens type of tunnel kiln, it may -be employed in connection with any tunnel lriln.

In the drawings `I have shown only a portion of the burning or ring zone of a tunnel kiln at 1, having tracks 2 for the cars which convey the goods or wares through the tunnel from the entrance to the exit thereof. The reheating and cooling zones of the el) a're omitted. Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the combustion chambers are reierabl Y located on opposite sides of the unnel. hese chamextend alongside the tunnel on oppoand communicate with the firing zone by openings 4. 'The combustion chambers 3 are fired from either or both ends thereof in the direction of their lengths and, preferably, from their ends which are nearest to the exit end of the tunnel.

In the drawings I have shown openings 5, 6 to admit either oil or gaseous fuel burners at that end of the combustion chamber which is nearest the exit end of the tunnel. Such fuel means could be located at the other end of the combustion chamber, or, at both ends thereof. Coal could be employed at the points indicated., instead of either cil or gas, as the liring medium. In any instance, the combustion chamber is fired in the direction of its length, that is, substantialll parallel to the firing zone 1 of the tunne The purpose of this method of firing is to insure substantially complete combustion of the fuel within the combustion chamber and to consume the gases before they they enter the tiring zone l through the o ening 4 in each instance. An oxidizing :im is time obtained and danger of specking, blackenin or otherwise discoloring the ware or goo s in the tunnel entirely eliminated.

In my application, Serial No. 144,071 filed January 23, 1917, I have disclosed and claimed combustion chambers which are fired in the direction of their length, and the method of firing said combustion chambers.

bustion chambers are located and beixw of the same length as said chambers. his arch may be suitabl insulated, as b the use of cork brick, as estos, keiselgu r earth, or other means, to prevent loss of heat by radiation outwardly and upwardly from the arch. I do not consider such insulation essential, although it is preferable, to obtain increased thermal eiiects. Preferably the arch 7 is substantially semi-circular, rising from the outermost parts of the benches 8 and crowning the combustion chambers and the tunnel. The arch has a two-fold function: first, it assists combustion in the chambers 3 in connection with the lengthwise {iring in said chambers, as previously ein plained; second, it radiates heat toward the oods` or wares on the cars in the tunnel,

t us insuring that the be subjected to a maximum number of eat units with the consumption of a minimum amount of fuel.

Baliles 9, depending from the arch in line with the inner walls of the benchesl 8, may be used to assist the combustion within the chambers 3 and to deflect the heat downwardly toward the bottom of the goods or Ware on the cars as it issues through the openings 4 into the burning or firing zone 1. In other words, the heat from the combustion chambers 3 is forced in and around the ware 5 just over the top of the car platform 4 and naturally rises and disseininetes throughout the ware thereupon. The result is that the ware above the bottom of the stacks is burned at substantially the same temperature as the ware at the middle and top of each Stack and a uniform firing of the ware is obtained.

The construction shown in Fig. is an embodiment of the invention according to the disclosures of my Patent No. 1,288,975, dated December 4, 1918, and to that extent the present application 1s a continuation in part of saidapplicaticn.

This crm of the invention is designed to use producer gas as fuel for firing the Ware. The fuel gas 1s supplied from c main, not shown, through ducts 35 to the mixing chambers 36, the walls of which are provided with air inlets 37 which may communicate directly with the outer atmosphere, or the maybe connected by ducts not shown, wit x a source of supply of preheated air. The circulation through these ducts ma be either induced or forced. The mixing c ambers 36 are separated from the combustion chambers 39 ly walls 40 havin arched openings 41, sai combustion clizambers being separated from the interior of the furnace proper by walls 42 of checker-work made of re brick or other refractory material. The checker-brick serves to distribute the heat uniformly, and it also acts as an accumulator for holding or retaining the heat at a point where the highest temperature is Lesegsoo required. The checker-brick' also acts as a mixer for the l,air and fuel4 gas, therelznypro'` meting perfect combustion The mixing `chambers and combustion 'chambers may becombilned 'by eliminating the walls 10, wheneverconditions-maynialel hecauseof itspculiar'eha aand-angle, snple ra plies the necessary" heat or complete' consumption ofjth'e heat'units contained the fuel with which burning isbeing eected. With my invention, the old method of ree' generating the gas by switching it :from one iluel containnga. checker-'brickworlrfto another flue, or, froma supply `of hotair induced or supplied from anyvsource'to assist combustion. -is `entirely obviated by the use of the arch and:the arallel combustim chamber. I havefdun frompractical'experience that axed length of combustion chamber prevents any'wa'stage of'heat units, as they are entirely med,2which might not hev the case were t e'V combustionchamof -the y combustion Vchamber is determined,4

for practical results, by the size of the tunnel used 'in the kilnz'a'nd in the tonnage of the goods contained on the cars therein.

In connection with m invention, I call attention to the fact t at the wares approaching the firing zone have almost reached the temperature of the zone before entering it. Further, that the heat the wares. ave absorbed is pitted against the heat from the arch which has also absorbed the greatest heat in the combustion chamber, and that each of the two plays its part in su plyi of, and in lling, the combustion chamber wit that intense white heat which compels the consumption of almost every heat unit before it can travel from one end of the combustion chamber to the other end thereof, at which point the greater volume of temperature is nding its way in and around the wares in the tunnel .and on down through the kiln, feeding the goods with its temperature until almost entirely consumed before reaching the stack of the kiln.

The constructions and method of operaation disclosed, but not claimed, herein are claimed-in an application `Serial No. 237,166, filed May 28, 1918, and in Serial No. 249,827, filed August 14, 1918.

What I claim is:

1. A tunnel kiln having a combustion chamber communicating at its side with the interior of the tunnel and provided with means for deflecting from said chamber into and* provided with means ordnect y arallelinghe'ftunnel of the.y

,means for yring; saidcombustion chamber inthe direction-of its'length.

cAftunnel kiln having" a combustion chamber` communicatingl the interior oftlietunnel by a relatvel large` o enling aterall A{deilec and radiatin' into' the tunnel roughlsai opening the eat and -products-ef combustion.

3i llhe'r method 'of firing a tunnel kiln, consisting -in developing combustion within a chamber in the eneral direction of the `h thereof, Wh'4 e' laterally dellecting and mtingffrom 'the chamber into the tunnel the heat' andproducte of combustion.

4. Atunnel kiln having combustion chambersextending along its sides, means for ring'said combustionchambers in a direction substantially parallel to the len h of the tunnel, and an arch constituting ete ofthe liringor burning-'zone Vof the tunne `o:Etl1e tunnel and provided with an arch which: faces the tunnel-"and said communication,` said arch and -communication beingv` so arran that the arch `is adapted to effectually' directl 4detlectnnd radiate theheat and pro'dx'rcte o combustion from "said chamberthrough said communication into said tunne Y 6. The method of firing a tunnel kiln, consista in developing combustion in the general lrection of the length of the tunnel of the kiln in a combustion chamber exteriorl)7 of the tunnel while deilecting and radiatm laterally into the interior of the tunnel t e heat derived from such combastion.

7. A tunnel kiln having a combustion chamber having communication with the interior of the tunnel means for firing said combustion chamber 1n the direction of its Vlength and crosswise in relation to the communication aforesaid whereb combustion may be developed in the com ustion chamber before passage of the heat and products thereof through said communication, and an arch arranged ci'osswise of said combustion chamber, said arch `facili the tunnel and said communication and icing so a1'- ranged as to directly deflect and radiate the heat and products of combustion from said chamber through said communication into said tunnel.

8. A tunnelkiln provided with combustion chambers having communication with the tunnel at the ofph osito sides of the latter, and an arch whi comprises outer walls of the combustion chambers and the crown of the tunnel of the kiln, said arch facinv the tunnel and said communications and being so arranged as to directly defiect and radiate the heat and roducts of combustion from said chamber t rough said communications into said tunnel.

9. A tunnel kiln having a combustion chamber in communication with the tunnel, and an unbroken arch which springs from the floor ofthe combustion chamber and faces the tunnel, said arch and communication being so arranged that the arch is adapted to laterally deliect and radiate from the chamber into the Atunnel the heat and products of combustion.

10. A tunnel kiln having combustion chambers communicating with the tunnel at opposite sides thereof, and an arch which slrinvs from the floors of the respective clam ers and comprises the outer walls thereof and the crown of the tunnel of the kiln, said arch being adapted to laterally deflect and radiate from the chambers into the tunnel the heat and products of combustion.

11. A tunnel kiln having a combustion chamber provided with an arch for radiating heat and reflecting roducts of combustion into the tunnel, an means for baffling the heat and roducts of combustion to initially direct t em in a general downward direction into the tunnel.

12. A tunnel kiln having a combustion chamber provided with an arch for radiating heat and reliecting the Jroducts of combustion into the tunnel, and a baile extending downward from said arch for causin the radiated heat and reflected products o combustion to be initially directed in a general downward direction into the tunnel.

13. A tunnel kiln having combustion chambers communicating with the tunnel at its sides, an arch which comprises outer walls of the combustion chambers and the crown of the tunnel of the kiln, and means for causing the heat radiated from the arched outer walls of the combustion chambers and the products of combustion refiected by said walls to be initially directed in a cneral downward direction into the tunne 14. A tunnel kiln having combustion chambers communicating with the tunnel at its sides, an arch which comprises outer walls of the combustion chambers and the crown of the tunnel of the kiln, and baffles for the combustion chambers extending downward from said arch which cause the heat radiated from the arched outer walls of the combustion chambers and the products of combustion reflected by said walls to be initially directed in a general downward direction into the tunnel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. i JHN B. OWENS. 

